Liposuction Surgery Recovery

Liposuction is a relatively less invasive procedure performed by a cosmetic surgeon, and innovative surgical techniques have made it possible to perform it without general anesthesia. However, it will still involve a considerable recovery period, which can vary from one patient to another, depending on the amount of fat removed and the number of sites treated.

During the pre-op consultation as well as just before the patient leaves for home after the surgery, the surgeon and their team will provide detailed recovery instructions.

Patients should be prepared to follow the instructions diligently for a safe and uncomplicated recovery. Accomplished and prolific plastic surgeon Dr. Paul McCluskey provides liposuction to patients in Atlanta, Buckhead, Georgia, and surrounding communities.

Early Post-Operative Period

Once the liposuction surgery is over, the patient will be moved to a recovery area where they will be monitored by the nursing staff for some time. Most patients will be allowed to return home the same day after the surgery, but they should have someone responsible to drive them back home. In rare cases, a patient may need an overnight hospital stay.

Depending on the patient’s general health condition, physical resilience and personal factors such as little children at home to look after, the cosmetic surgeon may recommend them to hire a private duty nurse for a few days or have a friend or family member to support at home. In any case, the patient is encouraged to perform light activities and short walks at home from the second day of surgery to improve their blood flow in the incision sites.

First Few Days

The incisions will be covered with bandages immediately after the surgery, or the surgeon may provide an elasticated support corset to protect the wound. The patient will be required to wear the corset regularly as long as the surgeon recommends. Mild bruising may occur initially, which will subside from the second week. But swelling will resolve gradually over several weeks or months, depending on the extent of fat removal performed.

The patient may experience numbness or change of sensation in the incision sites, but this will improve over time and resolve completely in most cases. Most patients can return to their normal routine to go back to work after a week or 10 days.

Outstanding and astute plastic surgeonDr. McCluskey receives patients from Atlanta, Buckhead, Georgia, and nearby areas and suburbs in The Peach State for liposuction.

Long-term Recovery

It may take about three to four months for the full results to appear as the swelling dissipates completely. In the first month, the patient should avoid putting strain in the incision areas and refrain from perform strenuous exercises or lifting or heavy weights. As time progresses, the body contours in the treated areas will firm up and the patient will feel more satisfied with their new look.

Among the recovery do’s and don’ts, one of the important ones that a surgeon will advise the patient is to refrain from smoking for as long as possible until the healing is completed. Patients who follow the recovery instructions carefully will achieve more sustainable and healthy results.

For more information on procedures and treatments offered by Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Paul McCluskey and the Plastic Surgery Institute of Atlanta, visit: